M&A attorney joins inaugural hall of fame

M&A attorney joins inaugural hall of fame

Stephen Waterbury. Courtesy Warner Norcross + Judd

A local attorney has been inducted into a law publication’s hall of fame.

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP partner Stephen C. Waterbury was the only West Michigan attorney to be selected for the inaugural Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame.

He was one of 20 Michigan attorneys who were honored with the award for both their accomplishments and leadership in and outside of their legal professions.

Waterbury focuses his practice on general business and securities law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions.

His nomination read in part: “Over the course of his nearly four-decade legal career, Stephen C. Waterbury has worked on hundreds of deals worth billions of dollars. His influence on the M&A industry has a much broader scope than just getting the best terms for his clients. Rather, the Harvard Law School graduate has focused specifically on teaching, training and mentoring successive generations of deal advisers, extending his reach well beyond the firm by having a material impact on the personal and professional lives of dozens of people.”

He serves as counsel to a variety of Michigan businesses, including multigenerational family businesses. Waterbury is experienced in international business transactions and corporate governance best practices. He has led or participated in deal teams involving clients in manufacturing, medical devices, energy, insurance, human resources, software, construction, agriculture, packaging and other areas.

Outside of the legal realm, Waterbury serves as a trustee to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, for which he provides legal counsel. He served for 11 years on the board and executive committee of the Grand Rapids Symphony, including two as board chair. He is the past president of the University Club of Grand Rapids and ACG Western Michigan, and past chair of the Saint Andrew Cathedral Pastoral Council.

Waterbury received his J.D. from Harvard University and his B.A. from Michigan State University.